Bulgaria and Romania secure Schengen membership

From January 2025, Bulgaria and Romania will join the Schengen Area, boosting free travel across Europe

ATHENS:

The European Union on Thursday approved the full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen Area, effective from 1 January 2025.

The Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council hailed the decision as "a historic moment" and "a great victory for Bulgaria, Romania, and all of Europe."

The statement emphasised that removing checks on people at internal land borders between these countries is a major achievement, benefiting not only Bulgarian and Romanian citizens but the EU as a whole.

Schengen, the world’s largest free travel area, currently includes 29 countries — 25 of the EU's 27 member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland — comprising a population of 420 million.

Since joining the EU, Bulgaria and Romania have implemented parts of the Schengen legal framework, such as those governing external border controls, police cooperation, and the use of the Schengen Information System.

The European Council decided on 30 December 2023 to apply the remaining parts of the Schengen acquis from 31 March 2024, abolishing checks at internal air and sea borders.

Border controls within the Schengen Area were first removed in 1985 between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Although Cyprus has not yet removed internal border checks, Ireland remains outside the Schengen Area.